DB & SubLb X-Factor Testing

Recently I’ve been seeing many comments and posts here on MUT.gg with members wanting to know the difference between certain defensive X-factors. I decided to spend my afternoon testing these abilities and below are the results.

Universal Coverage

-All KO’s and reactions in Man and Zone as well as tighter Man coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Zone Hawk

-All reactions in Zone Coverage

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Shutdown

-All reactions in Man Coverage as well as tighter Man Coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Side Notes

-Universal Coverage and Shutdown covered the same routes VERY similarly in Man Coverage. Neither ability appeared to have an advantage over the other in Man Coverage

-Zone Hawk and Shutdown didn’t light up when performing an interception. It appears Pick Artist may not be included in either of these abilities

-After testing these abilities against several different routes in man coverage it was very clear that certain routes will completely torch Universal Coverage and Shutdown while other routes were completely locked down by Universal Coverage and Shutdown

About My Testing

-All abilities were tested using the same plays, coverage assignments, etc. against the same offensive plays, routes, etc.

-Several different route combinations were used to observe how/if the abilities would light up/react in different parts of the field

-All abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

Reinforcement Vs. Run Stuffer on SubLb’s

Testing for effectiveness of shedding run blocks against O-linemen with Vanguard

-Both abilities would light up against o-linemen attempting pull blocks on inside runs.

-Both abilities performed the same, getting blocked briefly and never getting pancaked

Side Notes

-The same players were also tested with NO abilities and were pancaked multiple times and took a lot longer to shed blocks

About My Testing

-Both abilities were tested using the same plays, against the same offensive plays

-Both abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

thank you, your doing gods work

SlowAndSteady said:

Recently I’ve been seeing many comments and posts here on MUT.gg with members wanting to know the difference between certain defensive X-factors. I decided to spend my afternoon testing these abilities and below are the results.

Universal Coverage

-All KO’s and reactions in Man and Zone as well as tighter Man coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Zone Hawk

-All reactions in Zone Coverage

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Shutdown

-All reactions in Man Coverage as well as tighter Man Coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Side Notes

-Universal Coverage and Shutdown covered the same routes VERY similarly in Man Coverage. Neither ability appeared to have an advantage over the other in Man Coverage

-Zone Hawk and Shutdown didn’t light up when performing an interception. It appears Pick Artist may not be included in either of these abilities

-After testing these abilities against several different routes in man coverage it was very clear that certain routes will completely torch Universal Coverage and Shutdown while other routes were completely locked down by Universal Coverage and Shutdown

About My Testing

-All abilities were tested using the same plays, coverage assignments, etc. against the same offensive plays, routes, etc.

-Several different route combinations were used to observe how/if the abilities would light up/react in different parts of the field

-All abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

Reinforcement Vs. Run Stuffer on SubLb’s

Testing for effectiveness of shedding run blocks against O-linemen with Vanguard

-Both abilities would light up against o-linemen attempting pull blocks on inside runs.

-Both abilities performed the same, getting blocked briefly and never getting pancaked

Side Notes

-The same players were also tested with NO abilities and were pancaked multiple times and took a lot longer to shed blocks

About My Testing

-Both abilities were tested using the same plays, against the same offensive plays

-Both abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

You my good sir are a saint can you by chance see if these badge up X factors stack?? I’ve always found it odd that London gets double me twice everyone clowned EA but what if London was the smoking gun telling players hey you can stack these factors ??? Just a thought yk regardless of that many in the community will appreciate this heavily brotha

This was really great work. Thank you for spending the time doing it.

I also wonder if any of them stack, especially using shutdown with universal. I always thought the players did better when including both, but that could easily be my imagination.

It has been mentioned by several people that pick artist was included in universal. You mentioned it was not part of shutdown but was wondering if the same is for Universal?

GreenHoneyPack said:

You my good sir are a saint can you by chance see if these badge up X factors stack?? I’ve always found it odd that London gets double me twice everyone clowned EA but what if London was the smoking gun telling players hey you can stack these factors ??? Just a thought yk regardless of that many in the community will appreciate this heavily brotha

I don’t think having two of the same ability equipped would stack. I believe they made it so you can’t equip two of the same ability. I’m not sure if it works that way with baked on abilities as well since I haven’t tried it.

I don’t have Drake London currently but he was very good when I used him. Maybe I will grab him again and give it a test.

Dawk20 said:

This was really great work. Thank you for spending the time doing it.

I also wonder if any of them stack, especially using shutdown with universal. I always thought the players did better when including both, but that could easily be my imagination.

It has been mentioned by several people that pick artist was included in universal. You mentioned it was not part of shutdown but was wondering if the same is for Universal?

Yeah I really don’t know if stacking Universal and Shutdown would give even tighter coverage. The two abilities seemed to cover routes almost identically in Man when I tested. I can do some more testing with the stacked abilities when I have some time.

It has been assumed for a long time that Pick Artist is part of Shutdown because the ability description says, “their coverage is tighter and interceptions are more frequent on contested catches”. I didn’t see the ability light up with interceptions so I don’t think it has the same affect as Pick Artist. I guess if the defender has unlimited stamina on the INT return then the case could be made that it’s there but it’s not lighting up. 

Universal Coverage has never been known to have Pick Artist.

so what is your ideal stack for CBs?

LilsGotSkillz said:

so what is your ideal stack for CBs?

Depends on your scheme sir

SlowAndSteady said:

Recently I’ve been seeing many comments and posts here on MUT.gg with members wanting to know the difference between certain defensive X-factors. I decided to spend my afternoon testing these abilities and below are the results.

Universal Coverage

-All KO’s and reactions in Man and Zone as well as tighter Man coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

-Ability lights up when the ball is caught granting defender KO when in range

Zone Hawk

-All reactions in Zone Coverage

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability lights up after ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Shutdown

-All reactions in Man Coverage as well as tighter Man Coverage

Testing In Man Coverage:

-Ability lights up on receiver cuts and grants defender tighter coverage (Doesn’t light up if receiver has Route Technician)

-Ability lights up after the ball is thrown granting defender improved break on ball

Testing In Zone Coverage:

-Ability doesn’t light up and doesn’t grant defender improved break on ball

Side Notes

-Universal Coverage and Shutdown covered the same routes VERY similarly in Man Coverage. Neither ability appeared to have an advantage over the other in Man Coverage

-Zone Hawk and Shutdown didn’t light up when performing an interception. It appears Pick Artist may not be included in either of these abilities

-After testing these abilities against several different routes in man coverage it was very clear that certain routes will completely torch Universal Coverage and Shutdown while other routes were completely locked down by Universal Coverage and Shutdown

About My Testing

-All abilities were tested using the same plays, coverage assignments, etc. against the same offensive plays, routes, etc.

-Several different route combinations were used to observe how/if the abilities would light up/react in different parts of the field

-All abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

Reinforcement Vs. Run Stuffer on SubLb’s

Testing for effectiveness of shedding run blocks against O-linemen with Vanguard

-Both abilities would light up against o-linemen attempting pull blocks on inside runs.

-Both abilities performed the same, getting blocked briefly and never getting pancaked

Side Notes

-The same players were also tested with NO abilities and were pancaked multiple times and took a lot longer to shed blocks

About My Testing

-Both abilities were tested using the same plays, against the same offensive plays

-Both abilities were tested individually with NO OTHER ABILITIES ACTIVE on the players being tested

My goodness, this is pure gold.  Thank you for the in-depth reporting on your testing scenarios, what a truly well-written and informative post.  Wish we could upvote these things and push the best forum threads to the top, versus always having just the latest and greatest (sorted by date).  There are so many repeated topics over and over.  Anyhoo, grumpy old man screaming at clouds, don't mind me.

Which specific routes did you find in your testing would completely torch things liek Universal Coverage, etc?  I have some suspicions, but no actual data or testing scenarios to back that up.

And final question for now, hopefully this one is simple or straight-forward... when running Reinforcement, we do not need Out My Way, is that a correct assumption?  I was kind of reviewing my ability setup last evening and discovered i had Out My Way stacked with Reinforcement, basically anywhere possible, but especially across all of my linebackers and other primary run defenders.

EDIT:  Even with both (Reinforcement + Out My Way) i'm finding that my dudes will regularly get pancaked and wind up flat on their respective backs... but at least it gives us a fighting chance to defend the run!

LilsGotSkillz said:

so what is your ideal stack for CBs?

The ideal stack for would include:

Universal Coverage

Avalanche

Enforcer Supreme

Out My Way or Reinforcement

Tackle Supreme or Secure Tackler

Pick Artist or Lurk Artist

If you can also get Form Tackler and Extra Pop then those would be the next abilities I would look to add.

peatrick said:

My goodness, this is pure gold.  Thank you for the in-depth reporting on your testing scenarios, what a truly well-written and informative post.  Wish we could upvote these things and push the best forum threads to the top, versus always having just the latest and greatest (sorted by date).  There are so many repeated topics over and over.  Anyhoo, grumpy old man screaming at clouds, don't mind me.

Which specific routes did you find in your testing would completely torch things liek Universal Coverage, etc?  I have some suspicions, but no actual data or testing scenarios to back that up.

And final question for now, hopefully this one is simple or straight-forward... when running Reinforcement, we do not need Out My Way, is that a correct assumption?  I was kind of reviewing my ability setup last evening and discovered i had Out My Way stacked with Reinforcement, basically anywhere possible, but especially across all of my linebackers and other primary run defenders.

EDIT:  Even with both (Reinforcement + Out My Way) i'm finding that my dudes will regularly get pancaked and wind up flat on their respective backs... but at least it gives us a fighting chance to defend the run!

Hey @peatrick, as always thanks for the kind words.

Zig routes, Corner routes, and wheel routes consistently beat Man no matter which ability I tested. There was an obvious difference in separation when Zone Hawk was activated as opposed to Universal or Shutdown but none of them locked down these routes.

I definitely agree there is no reason to use Out My Way if Reinforcement is already equipped.

In my testing against Vanguard I was strictly using Faneca against SubLb’s and didn’t see a single pancake. Maybe I need to test again on the outside against TE/WR’s as they seem to get better pancake block animations than o-line this year.

SlowAndSteady said:

Hey @peatrick, as always thanks for the kind words.

Zig routes, Corner routes, and wheel routes consistently beat Man no matter which ability I tested. There was an obvious difference in separation when Zone Hawk was activated as opposed to Universal or Shutdown but none of them locked down these routes.

I definitely agree there is no reason to use Out My Way if Reinforcement is already equipped.

In my testing against Vanguard I was strictly using Faneca against SubLb’s and didn’t see a single pancake. Maybe I need to test again on the outside against TE/WR’s as they seem to get better pancake block animations than o-line this year.

I'm using Snoop, Flacco & DK Metcalf as our primary three LBs for Squads play. I may be noticing a ton of offensive controlled human beings pushing us into the dirt. Could be skewing my perception of things, players get away with a lot more than CPU bots.

All three have Reinforcement + Out My Way and the OLB tend to also get No Outsiders, to help ensure quick sheds on outside run plays.

peatrick said:

I'm using Snoop, Flacco & DK Metcalf as our primary three LBs for Squads play. I may be noticing a ton of offensive controlled human beings pushing us into the dirt. Could be skewing my perception of things, players get away with a lot more than CPU bots.

All three have Reinforcement + Out My Way and the OLB tend to also get No Outsiders, to help ensure quick sheds on outside run plays.

You make a great point, human controlled players could be getting better blocking animations.